That is to say, the foils focused much of their ammunition on issues such as whether building a publicly owned convention center hotel will drive economic development, or whether economic development drives hotel construction.

Dallasites on May 9 vote on Proposition 1, which if passed, would amend the City Charter to prohibit public ownership of a convention center hotel.

“Hotels don’t lead development. Hotels follow development,” Raymond argued before about 200 people attending the Dallas Bar Association-sponsored event at the Belo Mansion. “If the numbers worked, the private sector would build it.”

Leppert said he “would love to be able to privately finance a convention center hotel” but that public financing will ultimately prove more cost effective.

“This is what it’s all about: It’s about building a tax base, and being able to go forward,” Leppert said, adding that the hotel will draw a considerable amount of new convention business, which in turn will make other hotels, restaurants, retail operations and even local cab companies more profitable.

Leppert and Raymond didn’t cover much new ground today, sticking mainly to their respective arguments that the hotel will be an economic boon that benefits taxpayers versus an economic bust that financially soaks taxpayers.

One curious back-and-forth occurred when Leppert and Raymond argued over the ramifications of the very proposition ballot language on which Dallasites will vote May 9.

Leppert contends the language could — by omission — prohibit Dallas from funding new tax increment financing districts that could be used to subsidize future hotel developments throughout the city.

Raymond says that isn’t true, and that the language specifies Dallas could still use tax increment financing districts to subsidize hotels, even if it doesn’t overtly say Dallas would be able to fund such districts.

But confusion over the point could lead to litigation, Leppert predicted.

“It grows the possibility that we go to court. If you’re working with any developer, any investor, and all of a sudden we sit down and say, you may be in a situation where you’ve got to stick it out with us, and you may have to be in court 12 to 18 months,” Leppert said. “All of these little legal niceties have an enormous impact on the economy.”

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